Machine for the manufacture of concrete blocks



J. M. WELLINGTON AND D. G. MACKENZIE.

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE BLOCKS.

K APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1920-.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 'lif? A W12? Patented Dec. ,7, 1920.

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J. M. WELLINGTON AND D. G. MACKEN'ZIEP MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1920.

11,361, 2 l Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTy,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MORECRAFT WELLINGTON AND DUNCAN GORDON MACKENZIE, 0F ILEORD,

- ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE BLOCKS.

Application filed June 22,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN MORECRAFT WELLINGTON and DUNCAN GORDON MACI'KEN- ZIE, subjects of the King of Great lltaln and Ireland, residing at 241 Empress avenue, Ilford, in the county of Essex,England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Concrete Blocks, of which the following is a specification. 9

The invention consists of an improved machine for the manufacture of concrete blocks, which has been devised with the object of providing a machine of simple construction by means of which a large number of blocks can be rapidly made.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a machine constructed in accordance with the invention, in which compression of the contents of the molds of the machine is effected by means of a hydraulic ram. v

Of these drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of the machine as seen from opposite sides of the base-plateof the machine, a mold being shown raised in Fig. 1 and lowered in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine. In this view the lever mechanism for raising and lowering the mold shown on the left of the figure has been omitted, with the object of simplifying the figure.

Referring now to the drawings, the improved machine comprises a base-plate 1,. of or substantially of the shape shown in Fig. 3, to which base-plate are secured two vertically disposed columns 2 arranged opposite to one another. These columns 2 support a bridge-piece or head 3, the center of which forms or is provided with a cylinder 4; of a hydraulic ram 5. The columns 2 also serve as pivots for two subsidiary baseplates or platforms 6, one platform being mounted on each columnin such manner that it can be readily swung into and out of position beneath the ram 5. The subsidiary base-plates or platforms 6 are each provided with four pillars 7 to serve as supports for tables 8 upon which are placed loose plates 9 forming the bottoms of the two molds of the machine. Beneath the tables 8 and adapted to slide up and down on the pillars 7 are plates 10 provided with cores 11, and surrounding the tables 8 and secured to the core-carrying plates 10 are frames 12, open at their tops, forming the walls of the molds. The end walls of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1920.

1920. Serial N0. 390,975.

boxes or molds 12 are provided with rollers 13 adapted to engage with and roll on guide columns 14 fixed to the subsidiary base-plates or platforms 6. The side walls of the boxes or molds 12 are formed with outwardly projecting trunnions 15 to receive members of lever mechanism for raising and lowering the core-carrying plates 10 and the boxes or molds 12. This mechanism may consist of the following parts, a set of the partsbeing used with each subsidiary base-plate or platform 6. A hand lever 16 of suitable length is pivotally attached to each ofthe subsidiary base-plates or platforms 6 at or near the lower end of the boss or sleeve by which the platform is mounted on one of the columns 2. This hand lever 16 is connected by a link 17 to a bell-crank lever 18, which is secured to a short rocking shaft 19 passing through the subsidiary base-plate or platform and has a short lever 20 fixed to its opposite end:

To the bellcrank lever 18 on the one side of the platform and to the short lever 20 on the other side of the platform are connected links 21 engaging with the trunnions 15 formed on the side walls of the box or mold 12 belonging to the platform. The weights of the core-carrying plates 10 and the boxes or molds 12 are counter-balanced in any convenient manner, so that these parts can be easily raised and lowered when the hand levers 16 of the mechanism are operated. In the drawings the weights of said parts are shown as being counter-balanced by weights 22 connected to the spindles of the lowermost of the rollers 13 by means. ofwires 23 passing over guide pulleys 24:. Further, the tables 8 and the loose plates 9 resting thereon are formed with holes'to permit of the passage therethrough of the cores 11 attached to the plates 10. As regards the remaining parts shown on the drawings 25 are levers provided with weights for counter-balancing the ram 5, 26 is a lever for operating the pressure valve of the cylinder 1, 27 are rollers supporting the subsidiary base-plates or platforms- 6, and 28 are tracks for the rollers 27. 29,. Fig. 3, is a concrete block.

The machine is used as follows One of the subsidiary base-plates or platforms 6 is swung from the center of the machine to its outermost position, and the core-carrying plate 10 and the box or mold 12 of this platform are raised. The mold is then filled with concrete, which is leveled off to the top of the mold. The platform is then swung into position below the ram 5, the face of which is of such a size as to cover and rest on the upper edges of the walls of the mold. Pressure is now applied to the contents of the mold by pumping or otherwise. On the required pressure being reached the pressure valve of the cylinder 4 is opened, and the ram 5 is raised by the weights on the outer ends of the levers 25. The platform is now swung outward, the core-carrying plate 10 and the box or mold 12 are lowered by the lever mechanism, and the formed block with the plate on which it rests is removed from the table of the platform. Another loose plate is placed on said table, and the sequence of operations is repeated.

In practice while a block is being compressed in one mold the mold belonging to the other platform is being filled ready to be used in its turn.

Inthe foregoing descriptionit has been assumed that plain or smooth faced blocks are to be formed. In the event of blocks being required which have .a rough. hewn or other design of facing suitable loose plates bearing the required design are placed in the molds before the latter are filled.

Certain details of construction, more particularly the construction of the molds, may be varied without departing from the invention.

Having now described our invention what we have invented and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows 1. A machine for manufacturing concrete blocks comprising a base-plate, two oppositely disposed columns secured to said base plate, a head supported by said columns, a ram in said head, two platforms revolubly mounted on said columns and adapted to be swung under and away from said head, and molds supported in position above said platforms, substantially as described.

2. A machine for manufacturing concrete blocks consisting of a base-plate, two oppositely disposed columns secured to said base-plate, a head supported by said colsaid head, tables supported on pillars fiXed' to said platforms, molds comprising loose plates resting on said tables and walls carried by plates slidably mounted on said pillars, and lever mechanism for raising and lowering said slidable plates and mold walls, substantially as described. v

3. A machine for manufacturing concrete blocks consisting of a base-plate, two oppositely disposed columns secured to said base-plate, a head supported by said columns, a ram in said head, two platforms revolubly mounted on said columns and adapted to be swung under and away from said head, tables supported on pillars fixed to said platforms, molds consisting of loose plates resting on said tables and of walls carried by plates slidably mounted on said pillars, rollers supported by the end walls of said molds, guide columns for said rollers fixed to said platforms, and lever mechanism for raising and lowering said slidable plates and end walls, substantially as described.

4. A machine for manufacturingconcrete blocks consisting of a base-plate, two oppositely disposed columns secured to said base-plate, a head supported by said columns, a ram in said head, two platforms revolubly mounted on said columns and adapted to be swung under and away from said heads, tables supported on pillars fixed to said platforms and formed with one or more holes, molds consisting of plates slidably mounted on said pillars and provided with one or more cores, of walls carried by said slidable plates, and of loose plates resting on said tables and formed with one or more holes for the passage of said core or cores, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

JOHN MORECRAFT WELLINGTON. DUNCAN GORDON MACKENZIE. 

